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UFC stopped over in St. Petersburg in Russia for a card headlined by a heavyweight showdown between good friends and MMA veterans Alistair Overeem and Alexey Oleinik.
Valentina Shevchenko's elder sister put her undefeated streak on the line against The Happy Warrior, Roxanne Modafferi. Elsewhere on the card, many Russian-born fighters took centre stage on a card that had it all - finishes, innovative submissions and closely contested decisions.
Here are the results and highlights of UFC Fight Night 149/ UFC St. Petersburg:
UFC Fight Night 149, UFC St. Petersburg Results - Prelims
* Movsar Evloev def. Seung Woo Choi via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26)
* Sultan Aliev def. Keita Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The 34-year-old Dagestani Aliev announced his retirement in his post-fight interview backstage after his win.
Alexander Yakovlev def. Alex da Silva via submission (Schultz headlock) (Round 2, 3:10)
Shamil Abdurakhimov def. Marcin Tybura via TKO (p\Punches) (Round 2, 3:15)
Gadzhimurad Antigulov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via KO (Punches) (Round 1, 0:44)
Magomed Mustafaev def. Rafael Fiziev via TKO (Spinning back kick and punches) (Round 1, 1:26)
UFC Fight Night 149, UFC St. Petersburg Results: Main Card
#1. Krzysztof Jotko (19-4) vs. Alen Amedovski (8-0) (Middleweight)
The Macedonia born Amedovski came into the UFC with a spotless record. His first UFC opponent was an 11-fight UFC veteran Krzysztof Jotko, who had lost all of his three previous fights.
Round 1: Amedovski looked stiff as expected while in stark contrast, Jotko was extremely loose with his movements.
Amedovski kept pushing Jotko back, who landed a jab and a straight kick before shooting for a takedown. He managed to get into top position, but Amdedovski powered out from the bottom. Jotko held onto him, Amedovski flipped and landed in Jotko's guard. He connected with some big elbows from the top.
Amedovski got back up to his feet and didn't fall into Jotko's bait. Amedovski pushed further and connected with a spinning back fist, Jotko ricocheted back from the cage, level changed and scored a takedown.
Jotko maintained top position as he trapped Amedovski's right leg. Jotko finished the round strong with a few forearm strikes. A highly professional performance by Jotko in the first round.
10-9 Jotko
Round 2: Jotko came in with a straight kick to the body to open the second round. Amedovski looked reluctant to throw and was a victim of another takedown. Jotko took advantage of Amedovski coming recklessly in with his lead leg and comfortably got him down to the mat.
Jotko connected with the short elbows in half guard and constantly looked for the underhooks. Amedovski looked to wriggle out but his hips were turned the wrong way. Jotko kept tagging away with short punches and elbows in side control.
Jotko gave Amedovski no chance to scramble as a potential choke looked to be in the works. Jotko trapped Amedovski's left arm between his legs and kept his right hand down with his body. Jotko unleashed some vicious ground and pound in the crucifix position. There is a reason why this position is considered to be the worst in MMA. Amedovski realised it the hard way. However, he survived until the end of the round.
10-8 Jotko
Round 3: Amedovski needed a knockout to win and his corner called for more volume on the feet.
Both men moved around as Jotko overextended himself for a left. Another level-change and takedown for Jotko.
Want to know what happened next? Jotko pinned Amedobski down and didn't let go until the end of the fight while dishing out punishment from top position. A clinic on the ground from Jotko.
10-8 Jotko
Result: Krzysztof Jotko def. Alen Amedovski via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)
From almost quitting MMA to defeating a hard-hitting UFC debutant in Amedovski, Jotko has certainly worked hard in the gym and the results were there to be seen. He landed 118 strikes in total in comparison to Arlovski's paltry figure of 8. A well-deserved return to the win column for the Polish fighter.
#2. Antonina Shevchenko (7-0) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (22-15) (Women's Flyweight)
The hype surrounding UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko's elder sister's rise as a top prospect was one of the biggest stories heading into the fight. However, she was up against the veteran Roxanne Modafferi, who was an underdog but by no means a pushover. An upset is what we got...
Round 1: Lots of movement from Modafferi in the early going. She used a lot of feints and jabs in order to get into striking range but Antonina kept her distance and connected with a few solid strikes and kicks.
Modafferi kept pressing forward and landed a few rights in the process. Shevchenko connected with a kick but an unfazed Modafferi pushed forward and clinched near the cage. Modafferi got in the underhook and a partial takedown. Shevchenko powered her way to her feet but Modaferri shifted to the double leg and rolled Shevchenko down to the mat.
Modaferri transitioned into the mount position and got in a few strikes from the top as the round came to a close. A big confidence booster for Modaferri.
Draw
Round 2: Shevchenko's corner instructed her to not wrestle with Modafferi and to keep her distance. Modafferi's corner told her to get funky. That sounded fun.
Shevchenko with a wild side kick attempted right from the onset. She landed another kick to the body. Shevchenko kept connecting with a few rights and hooks as Modafferi kept coming in.
Shevchenko got in two solid left hooks but Modafferi cut the distance and clinched with Shevchenko near the fence. Modafferi attempted to yank Shevchenko down. She eventually powered her way down to the mat and got into side control. Modafferi tried to pass the guard but Shevchenko created some space.
Shevchenko chose not to pop back up and Modafferi went back into side control.
Modafferi was up on the scorecards with 43 total strikes to Shevchenko's 41. The Happy Warrior added to her overall count and ended the round on top.
10-9 Modaferri
Round 3: Shevchenko came in hot and connected with some wild combinations. She mixed it up with well-placed straight strikes, jabs, lead lefts and the occasional kicks.
Modafferi too let her hands go as the fans loved the brawl.
Modafferi got Shevchenko to the mat again and rolled through to get her back. Shevchenko turned over and got into Modafferi's guard. Shevchenko was on top and looked to cause some damage but Modafferi rolled over again to get on top of Shevchenko. That silenced the crowd.
Both women got back to their feet but Modafferi didn't let go. Modafferi pushed Shevchenko to the other side of the Octagon despite eating a few knees in the process.
Shevchenko kept connecting with some nasty knees in the clinch but Modafferi stayed focussed on pulling Shevchenko to the ground.
Modafferi landed her fifth takedown to end the fight in her advantage.
10-9 Modaferri
Result: Roxanne Modafferi def. Antonina Shevchenko via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Don't know what that one judge saw there as that was a clear unanimous decision win for Modafferi.
Modafferi controlled the fight. She cut the distance, took advantage of Shevchenko's apparent takedown and grappling weaknesses and shut down one of the biggest prospects of the Women's flyweight division. A big feather in the Happy Warrior's cap as the Shevchenko hype train just got derailed.
#3. Sergei Pavlovich (12-1) vs. Marcelo Golm (6-2) (Heavyweight)
Moscow's very own Sergei Pavlovich was coming off first MMA loss against Alastair Overeem in his UFC debut in November 2018. His opponent, Golm last fought and lost to Arjan Singh Bhullar in October 2018.
Round 1: Golm jumped right into Pavlovich's punching range with the aim of neutralizing the Russian's reach advantage.
These men weren't here to waste any time as they went right to work.
Pavlovich measured the distance with his jab and unleashed hell. He first landed a stiff jab that pushed Golm back. He rocked him with a monstrous overhand right and followed it up with a vicious combination. A huge uppercut rounded up the sequence of strikes as the referee had to intervene in and put Golm out of his misery.
Result: Sergei Pavlovich def. Marcelo Golm via TKO (Round 1, 1:06)
Now, this was the Sergei Pavlovich we expected to see in the Overeem fight. Nonetheless, the intimidating Russian is finally here as he notched up his first UFC victory in emphatic fashion.
#4. Islam Makhachev (16-1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (13-1) (Lightweight)
Two exciting lightweight prospects looked to make a big statement in the highly rewarding co-main event of the night. This was set to be Islam's seventh Octagon appearance against Arman, who was making his UFC debut. This was bound to be wild, but did it live up to its billing?
Round 1: Arman got things going with a few kicks and feints. He slipped and Islam rushed in to take advantage.
Tsarukyan calmed down and clinched with Makhachev near the fence. A beautiful sequence ensued as Islam got Arman down to the mat.
They got back to their feet and back to the ground again. They scrambled as Arman got hold of Islam's neck in the end.
Arman grabbed Islam's back and tried to take him down. Islam resisted, but Arman was relentless. He got him down on many occasions in quick succession but Islam stayed firm. Arman wasn't in the mood to let go of Islam's back. Some brilliant wrestling sequences in that round.
10-9 Islam Makhachev
Round 2: Arman went for the overhead kick. Both men checked their range. Arman changed levels and went for the double leg. Islam stuffed it easily.
Arman caught Islam on the break with a right hook. Another lead kick from Arman and he then shot for another takedown but settled for a clinch.
Arman looked to get wrist control for the trip but Islam kept the distance in the clinch. It was Islam now who looked for the leg sweep and the takedown. Arman was the one defending and he did well.
Arman almost got in an armbar but Islam shifted his body in time to release the pressure. The back-and-forth grappling tug of war continued. It was exhausting just watching it, imagine actually doing it!
The round ended with both men in the clinch.
10-9 Islam Makhachev
Round 3: Both men traded big shots to begin the final round. A nice overhand right by Arman. Islam answered with a hard-hitting kick.
Arman went for the body shot and immediately went for the double leg. Islam defended and pushed Arman to the corner. Arman almost caught Islam with a big shot again on the break.
Islam sensed Arman's fatigue was setting in and pushed him to the cage and scored a huge takedown. Islam with the Dagestani handcuffs from the back. Arman forced his way to the feet and clinched. He looked tired and kept peeking at the clock.
Islam scored his fourth takedown and kept Arman down near the fence to end the fight.
10-9 Islam Makhachev
Result: Islam Makhachev def. Arman Tsarukyan via Unanimous Decision
That was some high quality wrestling! In the end, local fan favourite and Khabib Nurmagomedov's teammate, Islam Makhachev picked up a big victory - his sixth in the UFC.
#5. Alistair Overeem (44-17-1) vs. Alexey Oleinik (57-11-1) (Heavyweight)
The master of the Ezekiel Choke vs. the beast formerly known as Ubereem! 131 professional fights between two combat artists who have immense respect for each other. This should be good! Main event time, let's go!
Round 1: Oleinik took Overeem down in the first ten seconds and went straight for the Ezekiel choke. No surprises there!
They got back up their feet and Overeem shot for a kick. Oleinik with some weird movements and feints as Overeem moved away. Oleinik then rocked Overeem with a huge overhand right.
Overeem covered up as Oleinik let go a flurry of shots. Overeem seemed to have recovered as he clinched near the fence.
Oleinik hurt Overeem again with a body shot. Overeem survived and got his Muay Thai game going. Reem connected with some solid knees in the Thai clinch.
Oleinik aborbed some big knees but stayed in the fight. Both men clinched in the centre of the Octagon and Overeem landed three brutal knees to Oleinik's jaw to send him crashing to the mat.
Oleinik covered up as Overeem looked to apply the finishing touches, with caution though, as Oleinik was his friend. The referee gave the Russian a chance to fight back before stepping in to stop the fight.
Result: Alistair Overeem def. Aleksei Oleinik via TKO (Round 1, 4:45)
It felt like Overeem's glass jaw would let him down again in the early stages of the fight. Not today though, as The Demolition Man got his tenth win inside the Octagon with a quintessential Alistair Overeem performance. Muay Thai at its savage best!
